The city hummed with the energy of people going about their lives, blissfully unaware of the silent battle unfolding in the shadows. From a high-rise balcony, Riku looked out at the sprawling skyline, the cool breeze ruffling his hair. His sharp eyes scanned the distant buildings, calculating. The quiet after the fall of Okada was deceptive—Riku knew the storm was only beginning to brew.
The silent partner—an elusive figure known only as "M"—was already making moves. Riku had been preparing for this. Every step in Okada's downfall was just part of the larger strategy, designed not only to crush Okada's empire but to draw out M, who preferred to stay hidden in the dark.
A subtle vibration from his phone pulled Riku out of his thoughts. He glanced down at the screen, the message simple but telling: "He's coming. ETA: 30 minutes."
Riku's fingers tightened slightly around the phone, a flicker of anticipation crossing his face. It was time.
Down in the dim-lit underground parking garage, Riku stood next to a sleek black car, his eyes fixed on the elevator doors. He had arranged this meeting carefully, knowing full well that M's people wouldn't take long to retaliate. He could already feel their presence, lurking just beyond the edges of his awareness. But this was exactly what he wanted.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the garage, and Riku's eyes shifted to the side. A tall, well-dressed man appeared from the shadows, his face obscured by the brim of his hat. His movements were calm, precise, and practiced—this wasn't someone new to the game.
"Riku," the man said, his voice smooth but laced with hidden menace. "You've been causing quite a bit of trouble for us."
Riku didn't move, his expression unreadable. "It's only just beginning."
The man smirked, taking a few steps closer. "You think you've won because Okada's empire is crumbling? You've barely scratched the surface."
Riku's gaze remained steady, unflinching. "Okada was nothing more than a front. You're what I'm after."
The man's smirk faltered slightly, though he quickly covered it up with a cold laugh. "You don't even know who you're dealing with."
But Riku did. He had known since the first time he uncovered traces of M's influence in Okada's operations. Every piece of evidence, every broken deal, had pointed back to this shadowy figure who orchestrated everything from behind the scenes. And now, Riku had forced him into the open.
Just as the tension between the two men reached its peak, more footsteps echoed through the garage—this time from the opposite direction. Riku glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as three more men appeared, their expressions hard, clearly here as backup for the man in the hat.
"You should've brought more people," Riku remarked, his voice cold but calm.
The man in the hat chuckled. "You're outnumbered. If I were you, I'd rethink that confidence."
But as Riku's lips curved into a small smile, the sharp click of a gun's hammer echoed from behind the group. The man's expression shifted, and he spun around to see Yusei, casually leaning against a nearby pillar, holding a silenced pistol aimed directly at them.
"Looks like the odds just evened out," Yusei said, his tone light but with an edge of danger.
The men hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Yusei's sudden appearance. The man in the hat glared at Riku, realizing too late that they had walked right into a trap.
"Still think you're in control?" Riku asked, his voice low and dangerous.
The man clenched his jaw, but his pride wouldn't let him back down. "You think you've won this round, but M doesn't forget. You'll pay for this."
Riku's gaze hardened. "Tell M I'm waiting."
Without another word, the man and his goons slowly backed away, retreating into the shadows of the garage. They wouldn't try anything now—they were outmatched. But Riku knew this wasn't over. It was only a matter of time before M made his next move.
Yusei walked up beside Riku, lowering his gun. "Well, that went better than I expected," he said with a grin. "You've got a real talent for cornering people."
Riku didn't respond right away, his mind already moving ahead to the next phase of his plan. "They'll be back. And next time, M won't send lackeys. He'll come himself."
Yusei nodded, sliding his gun back into its holster. "So what's the next step? You've rattled the cage. Now what?"
Riku turned to face the exit of the garage, his eyes cold and calculating. "Now we take the fight to him."
End of Chapter 17